John told Jesus about trying to stop a man, who was not a disciple, from casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus responded, “Do not stop him. No one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for […]
Gospel Reflection for September 30, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus took a little child and stood the child among them. Jesus took the child in his arms and said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me, but the one who sent me.” Mark 9.36-37 In the ancient world children were invisible, non-people of
Gospel Reflection for September 23, 2012, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8.29 “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples in this Sunday’s gospel. The disciples are the people whom Mark most fully characterizes in his gospel. They follow Jesus without hesitating when he calls them from
Gospel Reflection for September 16, 2012, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters into a person from outside can make a person impure; it is the things that come out that defile.” John 7.14-15 Jesus is breaking down the wall of the law that protects Jewish identity. Jesus declares
Gospel Reflection for September 2, 2012, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Joshua 24.1-2, 15-17, 18; Ephesians 5.21-32; John 6.60-69 “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6.63 Jesus’ words in last Sunday’s gospel jar his disciples. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat
Gospel Reflection for August 26, 2012, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. John 6.53 Eucharist feeds a kingdom-building church that erupts with breathtaking force when the same food touches and fuels many together at once. Eucharist is an act of solidarity with
Gospel Reflection for August 19, 2012, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6.51 Jesus argues that the revelation of God in Israel’s holy history and law ought to lead real believers to
Gospel Reflection for August 12, 2012, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hungry, and whoever believes in my will never be thirsty. John 6.35 When Jesus sat at a table with his friends 2,000 years ago, he had little more to say to them than what he had been trying to say through the whole
Gospel Reflection for August 5, 2012, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
A crowd that numbers 5,000 men is following Jesus and his disciples and needs to be fed. They have only five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they had their fill, Jesus
Gospel Reflection for July 29, 2012, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
When the apostles returned from their first mission, Jesus tried to help them get to an isolated place so they could rest. They couldn’t escape the crowds. As he went ashore, Jesus saw a great crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many
Gospel Reflection for July 22, 2012, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »